A "Compulsive Overbuyer" Just Sold 9 Bags of Clothes—Here's What She Kept

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

For some people, a simple spring cleaning session would suffice when it comes to organizing their house and getting rid of old stuff. But for Elle UK fashion writer and vintage seller Daisy Murray, a much more comprehensive closet purge was in order for her London apartment. On Instagram, she posted about her decision to simplify her wardrobe. "Years of compulsive overbuying and a bizarre need to keep everything—'I want to give it to my daughter!' 17-year-old me screamed while clutching an American Apparel boob tube—left me with about nine Ikea bags worth of clothes to sell, and sell I did," Murray said. 

Intrigued by her commitment to closet purging, I reached out to Murray to get more insight into her decision and learn about the items she deemed worthy of keeping. "With so much of the world in slow-mo, my commute eradicated, social life decimated, and spare time abundant, I felt this was the perfect time for my final push to achieve wardrobe clarity," Murray told Who What Wear. "I began this 'journey' (cheesy, but true) three years ago when my parents cleared out my wardrobe. They refused to act as a storage facility any longer (rude), and I was confronted with the real scale of my shopping habit."

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

Murray also explained how she was able to avoid throwing away a single item, despite being "ashamed" of the huge volume of clothes she had amassed. Murray credits her love of vintage, which tends to retain its resale value, as well as her penchant for buying classic pieces. "So most of my clothes were either worth saving, gifting, or selling at a reasonable price," she said on Instagram. 

Murray's downsizing left her with her dream closet "that feels like a concept store stocked entirely for me," she told Who What Wear. Along with a single bag of sentimental pieces like her prom dress, Murray kept key items that she wears over and over. Scroll down to see what she kept and learn more about her closet-cleaning tips. 

1. Light Summer Dresses

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

In this category, meant to wear during the peak of summer as well as on vacation, Murray kept four specific kinds of dresses: strappy, linen, white, and bright colors. 

2. Organic White Cotton T-Shirts

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

"Pay what you need to to have the perfect white organic cotton T-shirt," Murray told us. "Invest in one and it will trump all the cut-price ones you bought over the years."

3. Black Midi Dresses

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

Murray told me that she kept several black cotton midi dresses for cooler early-summer weather in London. 

4. Trench Coat

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

Trench coats also made the cut after Murray purged her closet. I loved the way she styled this one with a dress and chunky boots. 

5. Strappy Sandals

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

In terms of Murray's capsule collection of shoes, strappy sandals were at the top of her list. 

6. "Dad" Sandals

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

Yes, chunky sandals are still in. I love how Murray wears them with a floaty dress and bucket hat. 

7. Chunky Boots 

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

This is exactly how to wear boots for summer: Contrast chunky boots with a breezy mini dress. 

8. Straw Bag

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

What's summer without a functional and cute straw bag? 

9. Party Dresses

10. Sneakers

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

Murray also included sneakers in her capsule wardrobe. The well-reviewed ones below are my favorite pair—and it doesn't hurt that Jessica Biel also owns them.

11. Mules 

12. Jeans

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Muray admits that since she heavily favors dresses, she only owns one pair of jeans. 

13. Mini Handbag or Vintage Baguette

14. Beaded Bag 

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

"A vintage baguette or mini handbag can be worn to so many events," Murray told me. 

15. Dresses for Work 

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

When it's time to head back to the office, emulate this look and try a printed midi dress with a blazer. 

16. Leather and Wool Coats

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(Image credit: @daisy___murray)

For winter, Murray kept her collection of leather and wool coats. 

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Associate Director, Fashion News

Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern over 13 years ago—back when the site only published a single story per day. (Who What Wear has since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC, which is how she ended up moving to Los Angeles from her hometown of San Diego. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2016, where she currently holds the title of Associate Director of Fashion News (as well as the unofficial title of resident royal expert—in case you haven't noticed her numerous Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton stories). She spends her days trying to incorporate her idols, Anna Wintour and Roger Federer, into as many stories as possible. Outside of work, she loves tennis, classic rock, traveling, and smothering her dog with affection.